20+ Differences between AR and VR (Explained)

The advances in technology and robotics have made millions of things come true that we never thought could happen. Two widely confused technologies are AR and VR, which most people consider the same or use interchangeably.

The significant difference between AR and VR is that the former is associated with combining the real world with the virtual. At the same time, the latter is concerned with creating an entirely different virtual world. 

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Key Differences

AR

• It is an initialism for Augmented Reality and can be best described as a technology that focuses on creating a digital or virtual world whose most part is as the same as the real world. A tiny part of it is entirely virtual or fictional, not symbolizing the real world. 

• In comparison with VR, this technology requires less complicated prerequisites. It does not require the use of any specialized headset for it to function and, thus, can be used even on a smartphone. However, this technology requires a bandwidth speed of 100 Mbps. 

• Since this technology symbolizes the real world more than the virtual one, a person is usually aware of his surroundings and does not feel completely immersed in the virtual world. 

VR

• It is an initialism for Virtual Reality. As the name suggests, it can be best described as a technology associated with creating an entirely different world that does not symbolize the real world. The major part of this technology is virtual, and only a tiny part of it symbolizes the real world. 

• Compared with AR, this technology requires some complicated prerequisites for it to function properly, such as buying a specialized headset and having a bandwidth speed of at least 50mbps. Along with this, this technology can not even be experienced with a smartphone. 

• With this technology, a person is less aware of his surroundings and feels completely immersed in the virtual world because this technology is concerned with using an entirely mythical world.

Comparison Between AR And VR

Parameter	Augmented Reality (AR)	Virtual Reality (VR)
Emergence	It is believed to have been invented before the invention of Virtual Reality (VR), i.e., in 1968, by a computer scientist, Ivan Sutherland.	It is believed to have been invented by Jaron Lanier after the invention of Augmented Reality (AR), i.e., during the mid-1980s.
Meaning	It is an abbreviation for Augmented Reality which refers to a technology that focuses on creating a digital world based on the real world, where some of its portions are owned by a virtual or fictional world. It is associated with not taking an individual into a completely different place but letting him be part of the real and fictional worlds.	It is an acronym for Virtual Reality which refers to a technology that is concerned with creating a digital world that is entirely fictional or mythical with some parts of the real world. It typically takes an individual into a completely different place where he is only part of this mythical world, not the real one.
Revenue share	Its revenue share is estimated to be more than that of Virtual Reality (VR), i.e., at 120 billion dollars.	Its revenue share is estimated to be less than that of Augmented Reality (AR), i.e., at 30 billion dollars.
Works by	It creates a virtual world with graphics and animations to use in the real world. It does not create an entirely different virtual world. Instead, it just adds virtual elements to the real world, allowing an individual to interact with the real and virtual elements.	It creates a virtual world entirely different from the real one and allows one to interact only with the virtual elements.
Composition	The real world makes the most of its components, while the virtual world makes the minority section of this technology. The real world and virtual world exist in a ratio of 75:25.	Unlike Augmented Reality (AR), here, the virtual world makes up most of the part of its composition, and the real world remains in the minority section. The real and virtual worlds exist in a ratio of 25:75.
Symbolizes	Since the major part of the digital world created by this technology is held by the real world, thus it is known to symbolize the real world more than it symbolizes the virtual world.	Since the major part of this technology’s digital world is taken by the virtual world, thus it symbolizes the virtual world more than it symbolizes the real world.
Seeing and feeling the real world	When people are a part of this digital world, they are aware of their surroundings that are a part of the real world. They can see their surroundings, interact with them, and can feel their presence in the real world. This technology does not take them to a place that is entirely different from the real world.	When people are a part of this world, they can not see their surroundings or feel like a part of the real world. This digital world feels like an entirely different place from the real world.
Immersion	When people are experiencing and interacting with this technology’s digital world, they are partially immersed in this as they can see the real world around them and feel themselves in the real world.	When people are a part of this technology’s digital world, they are fully immersed in this mythical or virtual world that feels like a completely different place than the real world, as they can no longer see their surroundings or can feel themselves in the real world.
Specialized equipment	One of the major advantages of this technology is that it does not require the use of any specialized equipment such as headsets, extended reality systems, handheld controllers, etc. It can be used even through a smartphone and a tablet.	This technology is associated with using certain equipment, such as headsets, extended reality systems, handheld controllers, etc., for it to function properly.
Bandwidth speed	It requires a higher bandwidth speed than VR, i.e., at least  100mbps.	It requires a lower bandwidth speed than AR, i.e., at least 50mbps.

Major Differences Between Ar And Vr

What exactly is Augmented Reality (AR)? 

An AR refers to modern technology that gives people a live virtual experience. The hallmark feature of this technology or experience is that it greatly symbolizes the real world and is not completely mythical.

This technology is estimated to use the ratio of 75:25 as the real-world: virtual world ratio. Since the real world makes the most of this technology, hence people do not feel completely involved with the virtual world and can feel themselves in the real world. 

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Characteristics of Augmented Reality (AR)

• AR refers to a technology that is an initialism for Augmented Reality. This technology works by creating a digital world that is made from a combination of the real and virtual worlds. Meaning it has a percentage that symbolizes the real world as it is and a percentage share that is entirely fictional or mythical. 

• It is believed it uses a 75 percent share of the real world and a 25 percent share of the virtual world. 

• Since it is primarily made of or symbolizes the real world; hence, people do not feel entirely involved with this digital world and can still feel themselves in the real world. 

• To be a part of this technology, one need not buy specialized equipment and can be a part of this through a cell phone and tablets as well. However, it does require a bandwidth speed of at least 100 Mbps. 

• This technology uses various graphics and animations to enhance the real world in the surrounding. The notable feature of this technology is that a person associated with this technology is still able to visualize the real world around him while interacting with the virtual world. 

What exactly is Virtual Reality (VR)? 

VR is another modern technology that is concerned with creating a digital world that is entirely fictional or mythical, along with a small part of the real world. The trademark feature of this technology or experience is that it does not symbolize the real world and is primarily virtual.

This technology is estimated to use the ratio of 25:75 as the real-world: virtual world ratio. People getting indulge in this technology feel completely involved with the virtual world. They do not feel themselves in the real world as this technology is primarily based on a fictional world. 

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Characteristics of Virtual Reality (VR)

• VR refers to a technology that is an initialism for Virtual Reality. It works by creating a digital world that symbolizes the real world minorly. A digital world created by this technology is made from entirely fictional or mythical features that do not resemble the real world. 

• It is believed to use a 25 percent share of the real world and a 75 percent share of the virtual or fictional world. 

• Since it creates a completely different world that does not mimic the real world, the people feel entirely involved with the fictional world and do not feel themselves in the real world. 

• One of the major drawbacks of this technology is that this technology requires the use of specialized equipment for people to get involved. It can not be experienced using a smartphone or tablet. 

• This technology does not add graphics or animations to the real world; instead, it completely blocks the view of the real world and puts a person in an entirely different world. 

Contrast Between AR And VR

Emergence

• AR – This technology emerged before Virtual Reality (VR) emerged. The traces of this technology take us back to 1968. Ivan Sutherland, a computer scientist, is seen as the man behind the invention of this technology. 

• VR – This technology emerged after Augmented Reality (AR) emerged. The traces of the origin of this technology can be found as early as the mid-1980s. Jaron Lanier is seen as the man behind the creation of this technology. 

Meaning 

• AR – It is an initialism for Augmented Reality. It can be best described as a technology that focuses on creating a digital world for people without taking off the effect of the real world. This technology allows people to be a part of the real and virtual worlds. 

• VR – It is an initialism for Virtual Reality. It can be best described as a technology that is associated with creating a digital world for people without having them feel the presence of the real world. It allows people to be a part of only the virtual world. 

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Applications of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

• Education
• Healthcare
• Tourism
• Digital services
• E-commerce 
• Art and design
• Advertising 
• Real Estate
• Gaming
• Training 

Revenue share

• AR – The revenue share of this technology is greater than the revenue share of Virtual Reality. As per the data of 2020, its revenue share is estimated to be 120 billion dollars approximately. No need for specialized equipment and presence in the real world can be considered as one of the reasons behind their huge revenue share. 

• VR – The revenue share of this technology is smaller than the revenue share of Augmented Reality. Its revenue share is estimated to be 30 billion dollars approximately as per the data 2020. The requirement of specialized equipment and only a minor touch of the real world can be counted as one of the reasons behind their small revenue share. 

Works by

• AR – It creates a digital world where the real world is in the majority share, whereas the virtual one is in the minority share. It creates various graphics and animations to add to the existing real world, allowing the person to interact with virtual and real things. 

• VR creates a digital world where a virtual or fictional world makes the majority and the real world makes the minority. It positions a person into a completely mythical or fictional world, allowing him to interact with only the digital world and not the real one. 

Composition

• AR – This world is primarily made from the real world, and the virtual world makes the minority section of this digital world. It is estimated that the real world makes a whooping share of 75 percent, whereas the virtual or fictional world makes a share of 25 percent. 

• VR – This world is primarily made from the fictional or virtual world, and the real world constitutes the minority section of this digital world. It is believed that the fictional or virtual world has a huge share of 75 percent while the real world has a share of 25 percent. 

Symbolizes

• AR – Since this digital world’s major portion belongs to the real world, it is associated with symbolizing the real world more than it symbolizes the fictional world. 

• VR – Since this digital world has a major share of the virtual or fictional world, it is concerned with symbolizing the virtual world more than it symbolizes the real world. 

Immersion

• AR – The digital world that this technology creates is associated with the partial immersion of an individual because a person can still feel his surroundings and interact with the real and the virtual world. This is primarily because this technology mainly constitutes the real world. 

• VR – This digital world that this technology creates is associated with the full immersion of an individual because when a person is involved with this technology, he is not able to feel himself in the real world and can only interact with the virtual world as this technology is concerned with making use of the virtual world. 

Seeing and feeling the real world

• AR – When a person is part of a digital world created by this technology, he can feel himself in the real world and interact with the real and virtual worlds. As stated earlier, a person is only partially immersed in this digital world and can see and feel his surroundings. 

• VR – When a person is part of a world created by this technology, he is in a different world altogether. He can only feel the virtual world and feels completely immersed in it, and he can’t see and feel his surroundings in the real world. 

Specialized equipment

• AR – One of the major benefits of this technology is that it does not require specialized equipment, such as headsets, extended reality systems, handheld controllers, etc., to function properly. This technology can even be used through smartphones and tablets. 

• VR – Unlike Augmented Reality (AR), this technology demands the use of specialized equipment, such as headsets, extended reality systems, handheld controllers, etc., to give a satisfying experience to an individual. This technology can not be experienced through the use of smartphones and tablets. 

Bandwidth speed

• AR – This technology does not require specialized equipment; however, it requires a high bandwidth speed of at least 100 Mbps for it to function properly. 

• VR – The bandwidth speed required for this technology is lower than the speed required in Augmented Reality. This technology requires a bandwidth speed of at least 50 Mbps. 

CONCLUSION

AR and VR are two widely used technologies that are often confused with each other. The major difference between Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) is that the former makes a digital world by combining the real world with a virtual or fictional world. In contrast, the latter creates a digital world by creating an entirely fictional world without resembling the real one. 

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